Introduction: Accurate weight measurement is critical for assessing growth and nutritional status in children, yet errors due to equipment can affect reliability. This study evaluated reliability of weight measurements obtained by community health workers using four weighing tools: SECA model 878, NutriScale Digital, Tanita model HD-662, and mechanical hanging infant weighing scale. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two municipalities in Laguna, Philippines, where three pairs of end-users measured weight of 80 children aged 0-59 months in house-to-house and stationary setups across rural and urban areas. Inter- and intra-measurer reliability were assessed using correlation coefficients (CC), technical error of measurement (TEM), and coefficient of variation (CV). Benchmark values included TEM <0.1 kg and acceptable %TEM thresholds (≤1.5% intra-measurer; ≤2% inter-measurer). Results: All four tools demonstrated acceptable reliability. NutriScale and Tanita consistently recorded the lowest TEM and %TEM values across settings, followed by SECA, which also met acceptable standards. Variability in measurements, however, was observed between house-to-house and stationary setups, particularly in rural areas. Differences in tool performance appeared influenced not only by the device characteristics but also by contextual factors such as measurer consistency, child’s age, and environmental conditions. Conclusion: Although NutriScale and Tanita showed higher consistency, measurement accuracy cannot be attributed to the scale alone. Field variability, proper calibration, and adequate measurer training remain critical for reliable assessments. Future research with larger samples and age stratification is recommended to better evaluate scale performance and inform tool selection for community-based programmes such as Operation Timbang (OPT).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the motivating and hindering factors affecting the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices of Muslim mothers in select municipalities of Maguindanao.

A pretested questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews conducted among 320 randomly selected Muslim mothers with a child aged 6-23 months.

Results revealed that prelacteal feeding was practiced by 16.6% of the Muslim mothers, giving mostly plain water. Solid/semi-solid foods were introduced at a mean age of 6.1 ± 1.4 months, with home-cooked lugao (porridge) (55.0%) and commercial baby food (31.3%) as the top foods introduced. The majority of Muslim mothers (82.5%) fed processed foods as complementary food to their children, including instant noodles (85.2%) and canned goods (51.5%). These processed foods were mostly obtained from sari-sari stores, with TV as the top source of information. More than 80% of the Muslim mothers cited food availability, economic reasons, and convenience in food preparation as the top three motivating factors in the practice of complementary feeding (CF). In addition, almost all the Muslim mothers (~97%) mentioned seeing their children grow healthy as the top reason for improving their food preparation practices, followed by positive feedback from their families. Meanwhile, household duties, low milk output, and a new pregnancy make it difficult to continue breastfeeding, while high complementary food costs, a limited budget, and a lack of food make it difficult to provide complementary food. The preparation of food for infants and young children is hindered by an increased workload and a lack of understanding.

The results revealed suboptimal practices in prelacteal feeding and the reliance on processed foods among Muslim mothers, with economic factors, availability, and convenience as motivating factors in complementary feeding practices. Challenges such as household duties, low milk output, and financial constraints hinder breastfeeding and nutritious food provision for infants and young children. The study reinforced the necessity for holistic strategies in IYCF promotion among Muslim mothers.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the motivating and hindering factors affecting the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices of Muslim mothers in select municipalities of Maguindanao. Methods: A pretested questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews conducted among 320 randomly selected Muslim mothers with a child aged 6-23 months. Results : Results revealed that prelacteal feeding was practiced by 16.6% of the Muslim mothers, giving mostly plain water. Solid/semi-solid foods were introduced at a mean age of 6.1 ± 1.4 months, with home-cooked lugao (porridge) (55.0%) and commercial baby food (31.3%) as the top foods introduced. The majority of Muslim mothers (82.5%) fed processed foods as complementary food to their children, including instant noodles (85.2%) and canned goods (51.5%). Conclusion The results revealed suboptimal practices in prelacteal feeding and the reliance on processed foods among Muslim mothers, with economic factors, availability, and convenience as motivating factors in complementary feeding practices. Challenges such as household duties, low milk output, and financial constraints hinder breastfeeding and nutritious food provision for infants and young children. The study reinforced the necessity for holistic strategies in IYCF promotion among Muslim mothers.
breast feeding, Islam, malnutrition

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the acceptability of four height/length boards as measuring equipment, (1) NNC wooden height board (HB), (2) Allen's stick, (3) aluminum-acrylic height board, and (4) stadiometer, from the perspective of the community nutrition and health workers (CNHWs) and mothers/caregivers.

METHODS: The study was conducted in two municipalities in the province of Laguna, Philippines. Respondents were 12 CNHWs and 22 parents/guardians of randomly selected children ages 1-5 years. Focus group discussions were also conducted among CNHWs to determine their perceptions, experiences, and feedback on the use of the equipment. Parents/guardians were interviewed about their views on the acceptability of the equipment.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the urban area, Allen's stick was most favored by end-users, while in the rural area, the NNC wooden HB was the most acceptable. Meanwhile, guardians preferred the aluminum-acrylic HB in the rural area and Allen's stick in the urban area. It was concluded that the use of height boards to measure the height or length of children was acceptable to both CHNWs and parents. CHNWs preferred the stadiometer for height measurement and Allen's stick for length measurement. In contrast parents/guardians preferred the aluminum-acrylic HB and Allen's stick as these were deemed non-threatening, culturally acceptable, safe, comfortable for the children, and the procedures were easily understood.

Introduction. Malnutrition in the forms of wasting and overweight among children ages 0 to 23 months is a continuing public health concern in the Philippines. Childhood malnutrition has lifelong consequences. For young children aged 0-23 months, maternal influences play a significant role in the realization of optimal nutritional status.

Objective. This study aimed to identify maternal characteristics that may influence the nutritional status of children aged 0-23 months.

Methods. This study utilized data from the 2015 Updating Survey from Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute. The association of maternal characteristics with the nutritional status of a child was determined using the Rao-Scott Chi-squared test statistic. Multinomial logistic regression was used to model a child's nutritional status using weight-for-length as an indicator.

Results. A child whose mother was educated was less likely to be wasted. The odds of a child being wasted was observed to increase with underweight mothers, longer duration of lactation and higher wealth quintile. Alternatively, the odds of a child to be overweight is reduced if the mother had formal education, was in late lactation stage, and availed tetanus toxoid vaccine. The likelihood that a child will be overweight increased with higher family wealth quintile and obesity of the mother.

Conclusion. Maternal nutritional status, education, duration of lactation, wealth quintile, and availment of prenatal services were found to be associated with the weight-for-height status of children 0-23 months. Incorporating the identified maternal factors when planning new interventions and policies is recommended to address wasting in young children.

Introduction: Stunting is the most prevalent form of child malnutrition worldwide, and is the best overall indicator of growth. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal characteristics and nutritional status of children aged 0-23 months based on their length/height-for-age. Method: The study used data from the 2015 Updating Survey conducted by the Philippines’ Food and Nutrition Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology. It employed a stratified multi-stage sampling technique covering all regions in the Philippines. Mothers (n=5,254) of sampled children 0-23 months were the respondents of the Maternal Health and Nutrition survey. The length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) of children and maternal characteristics were analysed. Rao-Scott Chi-square test was used for association analysis. Logistic regression was performed for model fitting. Results: A quarter (25.2%) of children aged 0-23 months in the Philippines at the time of the survey were stunted, with the highest prevalence (36.2%) observed among 12-23 months. Children being stunted or normal in height was associated with prenatal services, maternal nutritional status, education, and duration of lactation. Maternal education (OR: 0.39; p=0.012), age-appropriate breastfeeding (OR: 0.63; p=0.042), and prenatal services like tetanus toxoid vaccination (OR: 0.67; p=0.011) and ultrasound (OR: 0.71; p=0.025) lowered the likelihood of a child being stunted. Conclusion: It is recommended to strengthen and intensify service delivery among pregnant and lactating women because of the implication of maternal factors to the length-for-age status of children 0-23 months.

Malnutrition in young children is often viewed as an outcome of the interactions of dietary consumption, socio-economic, and demographic factors. Social capital is a widely explored subject because of its implications on health and socio-economic factors, but has not gained recognition in its role as a determinant of nutritional status. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the association between maternal social capital and nutritional status of 6 to 24-month-old children living in urban and rural areas and to compare the effect of maternal social capital on the child’s nutritional status between an urban and a rural community setting. Methods: A total of 135 randomly selected mothers were interviewed in selected urban and rural communities in San Pablo City and Municipality of Rizal, Laguna, Philippines. Chi-square and Spearman’s test were used to determine the association of variables. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the effect of maternal social capital on nutritional status. Results: Levels of maternal social capital were the same in the urban and rural areas (p=0.24) and had a strong association with household food security ( p <0.05). In the urban area, maternal social capital was strongly associated with mother’s education ( p <0.01) and weight-for-age ( p <0.01) and height-for-age ( p <0.05). In the rural area, maternal social capital was strongly associated with mother’s education ( p <0.01), ethnicity ( p <0.01), marital status ( p <0.05) and weight-for-age ( p <0.01). Conclusion: There is an association between material social capital and nutritional status. Improvements in education and household food security as well as having parents living-in together may lead to better nutritional outcomes as these factors are associated with maternal social capital which in turn affects nutritional status of children aged 6 to 24 months.